car.”
A wave of admiration washes over me. “That’s really kind of you, Ben.”
“It’s nothing anyone who doesn’t want to die wouldn’t do,” he answers with a wry smile. Then, he lifts his beer and says, “A toast — may you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.” We each have a sip of our drinks and then Ben says, “I heard that the other night at a crazy little Irish pub.”
“Sounds like a fun place.”
“It was. We should go sometime.” He looks slightly panicked, then says, “I mean … if we needed to have another work meeting or something.”
“Right. I knew what you meant,” I say, feeling totally disappointed he didn’t mean it as a date.
A crazy thought pops into my head that shakes me to the core. Ben Williams is a super sweet Gemini man which, astrologically speaking, is a really good match for me. The truth is that I find him enormously attractive, and now that I see how nice he is with my grandparents, I’m even more sold on him. Could something happen between me and Ben? Is it possible that he might be interested in me too?
Twenty-Six
Ben
I stand in the doorway of my bedroom, listening to the jackhammer-like snoring coming from my bedmate. I don’t think he’s gotten up since we left for dinner because he’s still in his underwear, out cold on top of the covers. It’s late and I should be tired after such a long day and three beers over a lingering dinner with Serafina, but I’m not. I’m absolutely wired right now.
Between the stench and the snoring, there’s no way I can sleep in the same room as Serafina’s grandfather. I grab my overnight bag and take it into the bathroom, then I have a quick shower and brush my teeth, doing my best to be as quiet as possible. (Although Lorenzo probably can’t hear anything over the sound emanating from his throat.)
Sneaking over to the bed, I get my pillow. In the hall, I see a small closet, which has blankets and extra pillows in it. I grab a couple of blankets to make myself a bed on the living room floor. I’m pretty sure I haven’t slept on the ground since I was a kid, and while it won’t be comfortable, at least it’ll be quiet.
As soon as I stretch out, my mind starts to swirl with thoughts of Serafina. I hate to admit it, but I was thoroughly enjoying her nap on the airplane. The warmth and the smell of her was absolutely mesmerizing. The day’s events click through my brain like photos on a slideshow and each one is of her smiling or laughing.
Nuts. I have feelings for her. Real ones. Which is not at all convenient because not only are we work colleagues, we’re also polar opposites when it comes to our very core beliefs. I cannot let myself entertain the thought of anything happening between us. Even if she is one of the loveliest women I’ve ever met. It’s just that our verbal sparring is … well … it’s like foreplay. Maria wasn’t wrong about the spark between us. We’re like gasoline and a match.
I grab my phone off the coffee table to distract myself and see I have a few messages waiting.
Mom: Hi, Peanut, how was your flight? Are you checked into your hotel? Love you!
* * *
Alec: So? How’s it going in mecca? Did you go straight to Kennedy or are you waiting for tomorrow? Also, anything happening with you and Serafina? Sometimes those tropical locations can really get women in the mood, if you know what I mean…
* * *
Gwen: Hi Ben, I hope you’re having a great trip. I just wanted to thank you for agreeing to come with me to the party. My aunt has already sent me a photo of her chiropractor and … yikes. Top knot and scraggly beard. You’re totally my hero.
I’m about to answer when I notice some movement down the hall. I lift my head up and see Serafina coming toward me with a pillow. She’s dressed in a nightgown that cuts off just above her knees and she’s got a sleeping mask resting on her forehead. She stops short when she sees me. “Oh, darn. You beat me to it.”
“Does Maria snore too?”
“It’s like someone’s sawing down a redwood in there.” She shifts awkwardly before saying, “I’ll see if I can get her to turn over. I don’t